Genetically engineered neural stem cells approved for stroke trial

ReNeuron has just received permission to launch a clinical trial for stroke patients using neural stem cells. About a dozen patients will receive the cells at Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland. An article in the Financial Times chronicles the path to obtain regulatory permission to launch the trial in the UK. An article in NatureNews describes how the cells, derived originally from aborted fetuses, have been genetically engineered with an inducible gene to control cells’ growth. The prospect of transplanting genetically engineered cells worried advisors to the FDA’s panel on starting clinical trials with embryonic stem cells last year, though Geron is still pressing ahead on this front.

Tags: stem cells, stroke, fda